SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has condemned a reported rise in hate crime since the EU Referendum.

Several incidents of racial abuse have been brought to the authority’s attention, it was revealed at a meeting of full council on Wednesday (June 29).

Councillors agreed a motion condemning hate crimes in the wake of the vote to leave the UK.

Proposing the motion, Cllr Claire Young (Lib Dem, Westerleigh) said: “Since the EU referendum result was announced on Friday, there has been a worrying rise in racially motivated offences across the country.

“In Cambridgeshire, police are investigating after hateful notes were pushed through the letter boxes of Polish people. A young Bristol mum has been spat on and abused.

“And I could quote many other examples of people who look or sound as if they may be from another country being told variations of ‘go home, we voted you out’.”

Cllr Young highlighted the concerns of a Hungarian man living in Yate, while other councillors spoke of incidents that had been raised with them.

She added: “We all need to make it clear that racism is not acceptable and that we welcome all.

“Let's make it clear we all, whether Leave or Remain campaigners, deplore racist abuse and attacks and keep South Gloucestershire a cohesive, safe community for all.”

The motion, which says ‘everyone living in South Gloucestershire is welcome here, in their home, regardless of their ethnic background, religion or national origin, was passed unanimously.